2 Days in Athens Itinerary

I’ve been dying to see Athens for so long and was so excited when I finally got the opportunity to spend a few days there. I only had two days, so I wanted to make sure I squeezed in as much sightseeing as possible. I’ve detailed my two day itinerary below. I’d love to make it back for a little longer in the future, but do feel like I got to see all the main highlights in two days!

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Where I Stayed

Since I had such a short amount of time I wanted to be right in the downtown Athens where everything was easy to walk to! I decided to stay in Plaka, one of the most popular areas of downtown Athens. It’s filled with charming little streets lined with cafes, restaurants and shops and it’s right next to the Acropolis and some of the other major ancient sites I wanted to see!

I decided to stay at the Electra Palace Hotel and I cannot recommend it enough. The location made it super easy to navigate to everywhere I wanted to go, I felt safe coming back later at night, the rooftop pool & bar were the perfect place to relax after a long, hot day of sightseeing and the restaurant was amazing! Plus, it’s a five star hotel that’s on the more affordable side (I paid $500 for two nights!)

Day 1: Philopappos Hill, Plaka & the Archaeological Museum

I landed in Athens at about 9AM and dropped my luggage off at my hotel since it was too early to check-in. I was determined, despite not sleeping, to stay up all day to get my body adjusted to the time zone and to not waste any of my limited time in Athens!

Philopappos Hill

My first stop was to get a better view of the Acropolis and Parthenon. I knew I’d be spending most of the next day exploring both, but I had read Philopappos Hill was one of the best spots in the city to climb to get a better view. From the streets of Plaka you could see how stunning the Acropolis was, but it towered so high over it was hard to get a sense of just how impressive it is.

Philopappos Hill is literally right across the street from the Acropolis, and it’s free for anyone to climb. I headed up the hill, aimlessly following one of the many paths. As I got higher up the hill towards the Philopappos monument that sits on top of the hill I found the perfect spot for some panoramic Acropolis views. Being up higher allowed for full panoramic views of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The sheer size is impressive, towering over the rest of the Athens skyline!

Explore Plaka

I spent the rest of the early afternoon exploring the streets of Plaka. There are so many cute winding streets and alleys with shops and restaurants and the neighborhood has a lively, welcoming vibe! I found a restaurant to have some lunch (the first of many, many Greek salads) and some wine, and then spent some time exploring the National Gardens before heading back to the hotel to check in.

National Archaeological Museum

Athens has the largest archeological museum in Greece. The museum features a series of permanent and rotating exhibits featuring Greek archaeological artifacts and art, as well as pieces from around the world!

• Opening Hours Info here.
• Tickets here. (12 euro in the peak summer season, 6 in the offseason)
• Getting there: you can wak, but it is a bit of a long walk from Plaka/downtown. You can also use the metro or electric train, go to Omonia or Victoria station to access the museum!

Rooftop Dinner for Sunset

Finding a rooftop for dinner, drinks and sunset over the Acropolis is an absolute must for any trip to Athens! I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Athens rooftop bars and restaurants here.

For my first night I went to the Electra Roof Garden, the restaurant on the rooftop of my hotel. The views of the Acropolis at various points during the sunset were unreal, I think I spent 90% of my time up there taking pictures, because I could not believe the view (see example below) When I did take a second to look away from the view and focus on my food, the meal was also delicious, and not too expensive for a nicer restaurant! I’d recommend making a reservation during the high season to guarantee your spot during sunset!

Day 2: Acroplis & Parthenon, Ancient Agora

My plan for Day 2 was to be up and at it early to see all the Historical sights! I had mapped it all out Day 1 so I could try to be as effective as possible to beat the crowds (& some of the heat!) Luckily, there is a combo ticket that gets you into most of the historical monuments you’d want to see, so you won’t have to spend too much time waiting in ticket lines!

Acropolis & Parthenon

There are two entrances to the Acropolis, my hotel happened to be closer to the secondary side entrance, but I recommend starting here anyways. This lesser known entrance is much less crowded, so if you haven’t bought tickets in advance you’ll spend much less time waiting in line.

Plus, when you enter this way you make your way up the hill, past some of the older monuments on your way to the Parthenon and the other temples sitting on top of the Acropolis. I think exploring this way is more exciting, than starting at the main entrance and working your way from the top of the Acropolis down, as the monuments tend to get less impressive and are less well preserved.

To save time you can book tickets ahead of time through the Acropolis official website here. I recommend the second ticket option for 36 Euro that includes entry to the six main archaeological sites in Athens, versus just the sites on the Acropolis, but if you only intend to visit the Acropolis, you can opt for the first ticket option.

One thing to note if you’re entering through the secondary entrance, you’ll need to walk up the hill towards the Acropolis. It’s a rocky path and not suitable for those uncomfortable walking across non-flat surfaces.

You’ll want to dedicate at least two hours to being at the Acropolis, if not longer. There is a lot to see and once you get to the top you’re going to want to stop and admire for a while! As you make your way up from the Southeast entrance you’ll pass a series of older monuments, such as, The Wall of Haseki, The Theatre of Dionysus, The Byzantine Cistern & The Odeon of Herodes. As you get up the hill towards the main entrance and the monuments around the Parthenon. You’ll pass through the Beulé Gate and between the Temple of Athena Nike & the Monument of Agrippa

At the very top of the Acropolis you’ll find the four main temples, the Parthenon, the Ancient Temple of Athena, Eretteo, & the Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus. There are also panoramic views of Athens and beyond. You’ll definitely want to spend ample time exploring this area of the Acropolis!

Roman Forum & Hadrian’s Library

If you purchased the combo ticket, there are a few other archaeological sites I recommend visiting on your trip to Athens. From the Acropolis you can easily walk towards Monastiraki Square, which will bring you past the Roman Forum & Hadrian’s Library, two of the other sites included in your combo ticket. These sites are much smaller and you probably only need about twenty minutes or so each to explore!

Ancient Agora of Athens

From Hadrian’s Library head down Adrianou Street towards the Ancient Agora of Athens. This street has tons of rooftop bars and restaurants with patios and is a great place to stop to get lunch on your way to the Agora!

The Ancient Agora of Athens is one of the world’s best examples of what an Ancient Agora (or marketplace) was like. It’s a sprawling area with several ancient monuments worth seeing. Some of the highlights for me were: the Temple of Hephaestus, the Odeon of Agrippa, and the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos. The Agora is a bit spread out, so I’d leave about an hour or so for exploring this area!

Dinner & Drinks in Monastiraki Square

After a long day of archaeological sites I recommend spending your evening exploring another famous Athens neighborhood, Monastiraki. There are a ton of bars and restaurants and shops in this area. It’s a super lively, fun neighborhood and a great place to grab dinner & drinks with more Acropolis views (trust me you’ll never get sick of this view!)